7 ways to use glass for home walls and doors

7 ways to use glass for home walls and doors

Toughened glass has quickly become a popular design element in many houses. From full-length windows and entry doors to even staircases, the use of glass can make any space appear bigger and brighter. The material is also incredibly functional, durable, and versatile, blending in seamlessly with many different architectural styles. Here are some spectacular ways in which one can use glass walls and doors to give their home a whole new look:

1. Partitions
Making use of walls to divide bigger rooms into smaller sections, such as using a wall to separate the kitchen and dining area, can make the house look smaller. Instead, one should opt for partitions made from toughened glass. This helps give the room a more spacious feel and allows natural light to flow freely throughout the house. With these clear partitions, homeowners can also connect the aesthetics of different rooms, giving the home a more put-together look.

2. Dressing screens
Toughened glass can also be used to add privacy to the room. Of course, the glass doesn’t have to be see-through. One can use frosted glass, fluted glass, or etched glass to carve out a little dressing nook in a large room. This creates a private little area without breaking up the space or impeding communication.

3. Sliding doors
Tired of the same old hinged doors? Replace them with sliding doors made of toughened glass. While they essentially perform the same function, they can make the transitions between rooms appear more seamless. This may be a great idea for those in two minds about committing to an open floor plan.

4. Kitchen backsplashes
Gone are the days of using marble or tile to create an easy-to-clean kitchen backsplash. Give the home a fresher look with toughened glass. As the material has a smooth, non-porous surface, it can be cleaned with ease. It is also less likely to stain. Many people also use toughened glass to cover their kitchen countertops for the same reason.

5. Wardrobe shutters
There are plenty of ways to add interest to the room, and using toughened glass on the wardrobe shutters is one of them. This is a great way of celebrating wardrobe organization skills in a sleek and stylish way.

6. Sunroom
Sunrooms have come back in fashion, and rightfully so! They are a great way to add a bit of greenery to the house. Plus, they can be used as entertaining spaces for small crowds. They typically use tempered glass for the walls to ensure that the plants receive adequate sunlight but remain undisturbed by other natural elements.

7. Windows
Windows made of toughened glass are quite common. Also known as safety or tempered glass, this material is quite robust and can resist breakage when exposed to temperature changes. Plus, it enhances the aesthetic appeal of the home by allowing natural light to flow in, creating a bright ambiance.

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Mistakes to avoid while using a vacuum cleaner

Many people use vacuum cleaners but still can't figure out how to use the appliance properly. If you don't use a vacuum cleaner the right way, you'll never get the desired results, plus you'll end up damaging the machine. Regardless of the type of vacuum cleaner you own, there are certain mistakes you must avoid while using it to improve its efficiency and longevity. Read on to know what these mistakes are. Emptying the dust bag only when overfilled Although inconvenient, it's necessary to empty the dust bag well before it's full or after each use. If you operate a vacuum cleaner while its dust bag or container is full, performance drops drastically. It doesn't pick up dust and dirt as effectively as it can. Moreover, a full dust bag can restrict airflow within the appliance, increasing the risk of overheating and damage. Don't want to empty the dust bag frequently? Consider buying a vacuum cleaner with a bigger dust bag. Assuming it's broken If your vacuum cleaner stops working suddenly, that doesn't necessarily mean it's broken. Vacuum cleaners often lose suction when the dust bag is full, or the hose is clogged. Also, many models today come with a feature that makes the appliance shut off automatically when the motor becomes too hot. This is to prevent further appliance damage and hazardous incidents. Empty the dust bag and clean the filter, hose, and brush roll to restart successfully. Vacuuming everything It can be hard to resist the urge to vacuum just about anything and everything when in a hurry. This is one of the costliest mistakes vacuum owners make! Most vacuum cleaners are designed to pick up everyday dust and dirt. Running them over small, hard objects, such as a penny or screw, can seriously damage or even break the appliance. You must also avoid trying to suck up water or other liquids, as it ruins the motor and can cause an electric shock. Using baking soda to pre-clean or deodorize Many homeowners use baking soda to remove resilient stains and get rid of odors from carpets and upholstery. While that may be effective, it's not advisable to run vacuum cleaners over surfaces rubbed with this chemical compound. The tiny baking soda particles can clog the filter over time, making the machine work harder and decreasing its longevity. Operating with the wrong attachments Not getting the desired vacuuming results? Maybe you're using the wrong attachment or not using one when required. Most vacuum cleaners come with dusting brushes, crevice tools, and sundry attachments to clean hard-to-reach areas, such as ceilings or under the furniture. These attachments also eliminate dust and allergens from spots homeowners overlook, such as light fixtures, baseboards, lampshades, and furniture upholstery.

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7 tips to find a good cleaning service

Keeping the house clean and sparkly all year long is a continuous effort, and a little help can go a long way. Today, it is easy to find professional cleaning services that can handle a variety of projects, such as regular cleaning, spring cleaning, and even special event cleaning. However, finding professionals one trusts around their home can require some research and careful consideration, so here are some tips to make the process easier: 1. Seek recommendations When starting the search, one can speak to friends, family, and other trusted contacts and ask them for referrals or recommendations. This will also provide one with honest insight into what to expect from a cleaning service. 2. Carefully assess online reviews While reviews can help in shortlisting top services, one should not fall for a 100% performance rating, as some companies pay customers to leave reviews, which can skew the ratings. Also remember that unhappy customers are quicker to leave reviews as compared to happy or satisfied customers. They often use third-party websites to vent about their experiences, sometimes in an attempt to damage the company’s reputation. The truth may not be as bad as it is made out to be. As a regular practice, steer clear of companies with a perfect or absolutely abysmal performance rating. Look for those that have a mixed bag of reviews, and try to pick ones that seem to perform consistently. 3. Ask for references Self-employed professionals and cleaning services that have been in business for a while should be able to share proper references of former or current clients. Use their contacts to verify the professional’s legitimacy before booking an appointment. 4. Look for insurance coverage When hiring a cleaning service, check if the company has insurance coverage in place. This will help cover the cost of any injuries and/or broken or stolen items in the home should something untoward happen. As this adds to the cost of operation of a company, such professionals may be slightly more expensive to hire as well. 5. Check if they use their own cleaning supplies Some cleaning services bring with them all supplies, such as brooms, mops, chemical cleaners, and more, while others ask customers to provide them. Knowing about the cleaner’s policies in advance can help establish a smoother working relationship. 6. Understand their service offerings Cleaning companies offer varying services and the ways in which they provide said services. Some are open to taking ad-hoc requests, while others only take on projects with fixed tasks. In most cases, basic services involve sweeping, dusting, mopping, and carrying out other general cleaning duties around the house. Always inquire about what a particular service involves, as it can save a lot of hassle later. 7. Determine the frequency of the service Depending on one’s needs, one can hire house cleaners for varying lengths of time. The services can be scheduled regularly (on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis), on a full-time or live-in basis with the family, or on a one-time basis. Prices for each can differ greatly, so one should pay attention to these details before signing up for a house cleaning service.

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4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

An investment advisor can be a game-changer. A capable advisor can help solve most of your financial issues and give you the best investment advice so that you can turn market situations to your favor. But, finding the right investment advisor is not easy. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while looking for the best investment advisor. Know what type of service you need First, you need to decide what kind of financial assistance you need. Do you need help picking investments? Or are you seeking advice on real estate, retirement, or insurance needs? Asking yourself these questions will help determine the type of investment advisor you are looking for. Nowadays, many people use a robo-advisor, which is as competent as a human investment advisor. A robo-advisor is great for investment management and other basic investments. But if you want substantial transformation in your money-situation, a human advisor is the viable option. Choose a fee-only advisor If you’ve decided to pick a human advisor, the next step is to choose the type of advisor: commission-based, fee-based, or fee-only. If you’re planning something big financially, you must pick a fee-only advisor. Such advisors work for and get paid by other clients like you, so they always act in their clients’ best interest.
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Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

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A good credit score is essential as it can be a criterion for lucrative job prospects or renting an apartment. Moreover, a good credit score is an uncompromisable necessity while applying for a loan that has terms and conditions that favor you. To ensure that you have a good credit score, it is better to start building it young and early. One of the easiest ways to do so is by applying for a student credit card from prominent credit cards companies. Now, there are several credit cards companies that offer lucrative credit cards, making choosing the right one confusing. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some of the best credit cards companies that offer student credit cards. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: One of the biggest credit card companies in the country Bank of America offers a slew of benefits with its student credit card. With each dollar spent using this card, students can earn 1.5 points. This applies to purchases without any caps. The points can be redeemed as discounts on hotels, flights, rental cars, and vacation packages. There are no restrictions or blackout dates applicable for availing these discounts. With no foreign transaction fee or annual fee, the card allows one to earn nearly 25,000 points on spending about $1000 in the first 90 days.
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A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance.
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